Takeaways: Sharks' Joe Thornton leaves game with an apparent right knee injury

By Paul Gackle, Bay Area News Group

Wednesday, January 24, 2018

SAN JOSE — Against challenging odds, the Sharks managed to squeak out a point against the Central Division’s top team Tuesday.

The Sharks erased a 3-0 first period deficit while playing their seventh game in 11 nights against a Winnipeg Jets team that was 22-1-4 when scoring first this season. With the overtime loss, the Sharks (26-14-7) improved to 5-1-1 since they returned from their five-day players’ bye.

Here’s what we learned as the Jets (29-13-7) beat the Sharks 5-4 in overtime at the SAP Center.

1. Joe Thornton leaves game with an apparent right knee injury.

Head coach Pete DeBoer and power forward Timo Meier both credited the Sharks leadership for the remarkable resilience that the team has shown throughout the season.

The Sharks fought back from a 4-1 deficit to earn a point against the Vegas Golden Knights on Nov. 24, they climbed out of a 3-1 hole to snag a point against the Vancouver Canucks on Dec. 15 and they nearly tied a game against the Colorado Avalanche last week after trailing 4-0.

Get Sharks news in your inbox. Sign up now for the free Sharks Report newsletter.

With that in mind, the Sharks would face a major setback if Thornton, their emotional leader, winds up missing a significant chunk of time after leaving Tuesday’s game with an apparent right- knee injury.

Thornton left the game in the final minute of the third period after Mikkel Boedker fell into his right knee upon colliding with Jets defenseman Jacob Trouba, causing the Sharks alternate captain to buckle.

The 38-year-old forward, who underwent surgery last spring to repair the anterior cruciate ligament and the medial collateral ligament in his left knee, did not return for overtime.

Thornton was unavailable to speak to reporters about the injury after the game because he was undergoing treatment.

DeBoer said the team wouldn’t be able to provide an update on Thornton’s status until Wednesday.

Like our Sharks Facebook page for more San Jose Sharks news, commentary and conversation.

Despite his recovery from major knee surgery in the offseason, Thornton ranks second on the Sharks in scoring (36 points) and he’s tied for second on the team in goals (13). He’s recorded 26 points in his last 28 games and the Sharks are 17-1-3 in games where he finds his way onto the scoresheet.

“It’s tough,” Chris Tierney said. “Obviously, he brings a lot of passion to our team and drives our team. Obviously, it’s not something you want to see.”

The fire that Thornton brings to the team was on clear display Tuesday. As the Sharks were mounting their comeback, Thornton was taking names and numbers, throwing three big hits, including a bone cruncher on Jets forward Bryan Little.

After the hit, Thornton set up Tierney for a one-timer with a pass through the slot on the power play, tying the game 3-3 at 13:25 of the second.

As much as the Sharks depend on Thornton’s leadership on and off the ice, captain Joe Pavelski expressed confidence in the team’s ability to absorb his loss in a worst-case scenario. After all, the Sharks did go 3-1 in Logan Couture’s absence in December.

“We’re not counting on that. We have a much better chance with him in the lineup,” the Sharks captain said. “But if he’s going to miss a little bit of time, someone’s going to have to step up and we’re going to have to play and get the job done.”

2. Tomas Hertl receives game misconduct penalty for delivering a hit from behind.

Tomas Hertl received a five-minute major and a game-misconduct penalty just 8:13 into the first after he knocked Jets defenseman Dmitry Kulikov out of the game with a hit from behind into the glass.

Kulikov, who was bloodied on the play, left the game and did not return.

Although it’s harder than ever to predict what is a suspendible offense in the modern NHL, Hertl will have several variables working in his favor if he receives a hearing with the NHL Department of Player Safety.

First, Hertl is not a repeat offender, which should help his case.

Second, the 24-year-old Czech didn’t deliver a direct hit to Kulikov’s head. He hit him from behind in the numbers, causing his head to crash into the boards. The NHL is extra focused on protecting its players from concussions, so the fact that Hertl didn’t leave his feet or target Kulikov’s head should work in his favor.

Finally, the hit was a bang-bang play with Kulikov turning away from Hertl after he’d committed to throwing a body check, increasing the severity of the blow.

“It’s one of those plays as a defender, you’re trying to buy time. The guys sees him coming, he kind of turns at the end. It’s unfortunate he gets hurt,” Pavelski said. “That play happens a lot. Whether it was a harder hit than normal, it’s hard to tell.”

With all that being said, the ballgame could change dramatically for Hertl if Kulikov suffered a concussion and is expected to be sidelined for a significant chunk of time.

3. Aaron Dell is human.

Aaron Dell is a human being after all.

The Sharks backup goalie, who started his third game in four nights in place of the injured Martin Jones, surrendered more than two goals for just the second time since Dec. 18 against the Jets.

The Jets first goal was the result of a bad bounce, the second came off a two-on-one on a defensive breakdown and the third was the result of a redirection on the penalty kill.

“I thought he was good,” DeBoer said. “It’s funny. I know they scored three goals on the first four shots, but I didn’t think he had much of a chance on any of them.”

But Dell showed a tiny crack in his game when Joel Armia scored the go-ahead goal at 11:38 of the third, beating him glove side to the near post from the left wing.

Regardless, the Sharks managed to come back and get the game to overtime, giving Dell 13-consecutive appearances without a regulation loss. Dell’s last regulation loss came on Nov. 17 against the Boston Bruins.